Steve Kerrigan, a longtime aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy and CEO of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, is running against Mike Lake, James Arena-DeRosa and Leland Cheung.

By Brad PetrishenMassPoliticalNews.com

It’s been more than a year since the state has had a lieutenant governor, but, odds are, the empty seat hasn’t caused much discussion at the average dinner table.

When Timothy Murray resigned from the post last May, Gov. Deval Patrick said he didn’t expect his administration to slow down, and the actual effect of Murray’s absence has always played second fiddle to speculation about why he left.

So ahead of this weekend’s as the pending governor’s race dominates the headlines heading into this weekend’s Democratic State Convention, candidates for lieutenant governor have found themselves touting the job itself along with their qualifications.

“Folks miss having that extra connection (to the corner office),” said candidate Steve Kerrigan., who wrote a recent op-ed for a Boston newspaper penned an editorial to The Boston Globe last June titled “The case for a lieutenant governor.”

Kerrigan, a longtime aide to Sen. Ted Kennedy and CEO of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, is running against Mike Lake, James Arena-DeRosa and Leland Cheung. All four told MassPoliticalNews.com they see the position as integral to the long-term success of the state.

Lake – president and CEO of Leading Cities, a Boston-based public policy group – said he sees the office as presenting “almost limitless opportunity” to advocate for causes they see fit.

Arena-DeRosa, former head of the USDA’s Northeast Region, said the office “affords the opportunity to think a bit into the future.”

Arena-DeRosa is pitching the “Renewed Deal” – a pledge to review government policy to construct a “fairer compact between state government, its cities and towns, workers and small businesses and all citizens.”

Cheung, a Cambridge city councilor, said he wants to “double down” on investments Patrick has made in education, infrastructure and the innovation economy.

Kerrigan also said he would like to build on Patrick’s success and stressed a desire to make government more responsive to the public as well as take a second look at outdated or failed policies.

Asked what set them apart in the race, all four candidates said experience.

Kerrigan was recently co-chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, a position President Barack Obama asked him to fill after he served for two years as CEO for the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee.

He also serves as president of the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund, a private non-profit organization that provides support to families of soldiers who have died since 9/11.

Arena-DeRosa, in addition to managing a $12 billion budget with the USDA, has served as the director of the director of the Peace Corps in New England. Before that, he served as director of public advocacy at the anti-poverty organization Oxfam America.

Cheung admittedly hasn’t served in as many high-profile roles as the other candidates, but says he believes his close work with the Cambridge community puts him in a position to be a true advocate of everyday people.

Lake, former special assistant for White House operations to President Bill Clinton, has served as director of development for United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

Like governor’s candidates, each lieutenant governor candidate must garner at least 15 percent of votes from delegates this weekend in order to appear on the ballot for the September primary.

On the Republican side, former state Rep. Karyn Polito is running for lieutenant governor on a ticket with gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Baker.

Brad Petrishen writes for MassPoliticalNews.com and the MetroWest Daily News. To follow the vote as it happens on Saturday, follow Brad Petrishen on Twitter @BPetrishen_MWDN and @MassPoliNews.

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